Winding apparatus



Aug. 8, 1961 A. FORSYTE WINDING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Dec.11, 1958 Q Wk gygm 4%, M ,L

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Aug. 8, 1961 A. FORSYTE WINDING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec.11, 1958 ATTORNEYS.

2,995,315 WINDING APPARATUS Alexander Forsyte, Skokie, Ill., assignor toBaxter Laboratories, Inc., Morton Grove, Ill., a corporation of DelawareFiled Dec. 11, 1958, Ser. No. 779,612 6 Claims. (Cl. 242-85) Thisinvention relates to Winding apparatus, and, more particularly, towinding apparatus for coiling parenteral tubing sets on themselves.

The tubing equipment or devices with which this invention has to do canbe generally characterized as having as the main portion an elongatedflexible tube. These are employed for conducting parenteral solutionssuch as blood, glucose, saline, etc., between a bottle or othercontainer and a human. The elongated nature of these devices can beappreciated from the fact that very often in an administration offluids, the bottle source is suspended some three feet above theintended recipient. Thus, a set may be as long as sixty inches or more.

The parenteral tubing set equipment which employs the elongated flexibletubing is also equipped with devices at the ends of the tubing formaking the respective connections to the bottle or other fluid containerand the human. Usually, both connections are in the form of needles orneedle adapters. Also, where the set is to be employed for infusingfluid by the drip method, a dripmeter or drip-counting chamber is alsointerposed in the elongated conduit.

These devices are all Well known to the art and are characterized by ahost of minor variations in the different connectors, drip tubes, etc.Notwithstanding this wide variation, it is an absolute uniform practicein the production and use of these devices to maintain their interiorsabsolutely sterile and free of any contamination. This poses a problemin the packaging of the devices, in that it is mandatory that theinterior of the elongated conduit be maintained in absolutely sterilecondition. Any stressing of the parenteral tubing set may result in aloosening of one of the components making up the elongated conduit, withthe chance that a contaminated set results. Not only is the entrance ofmicroorganisms to be avoided, but the entire length of the set must besubstantially impervious to air penetration. A loose connection, forexample, between the drip tube and the flexible tubing may result in airbeing aspirated into the set, which may result in an embolism in thepatient. Therefore, the practice has been in packaging these sets towind them by hand. It was felt that conventional winding techniqueswould impart undesirable stresses to the set, with a possible separationof the various parts, or cause these parts to lose their air-tightsealing relation with each other.

It is an object of this invention to provide novel winding apparatusespecially useful in coiling elongated flexible tubes, and the like, onthemselves. Another object is to provide winding apparatus useful inwinding parenteral tubing equipment where the tubing is woundsubstantially free of tensile stresses which otherwise might tend todisrupt the air-tight connection of the various parts making up the set.Still another object is to provide Winding apparatus for sets employedfor transferring parenteral fluids in which proper tensioning isachieved by supporting the set at its upper end while the set isstabilized against vibration at an intermediate point. Yet anotherobject is to provide winding apparatus for parenteral tubing sets inwhich one end of the set is supported between a pair of parallel,spaced-apart, rotating arms with the other end dependent, whereby akink-free coiled set is achieved.

A further object is to provide winding apparatus for ate ice

parenteral tubing sets in which a plurality of winding devices areprovided for continuous movement in a closed path in a horizontal plane,whereby one station may be employed for loading and another forunloading. A still further object is to provide a winding device forsets in which winding means move in a closed path, the path providingthe means for rotating the winding means. Other objects and advantagesof this invention can be seen as this specification proceeds.

This invention will be explained in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawing, in which FIG. 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of a packagingproduction line which features the winding apparatus of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged top plan view of a section of the conveyor portionof the winding apparatus and equipped with the means for winding sets;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the apparatus seen in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of the apparatusseen in FIGS. 2 and 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the winding apparatus seenin FIG. 1 and which is seen in various projections in FIGS. 24;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 3 and showing a front elevational viewof a particular winding device and which is shown in an operativecondition in winding a parenteral tubing set upon itself;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 but showing the parts thereof in yetanother operative position;

FIG. 8 is a schematic representation of the stabilizing means employedin connection with the winding apparatus seen in FIG. 5;

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8 but apparatus in a differentoperative condition;

FIG. 10 is a top plan view of a modified form of winding apparatus; and

FIG. 11 is a side elevational view, partially in section, of theapparatus seen in FIG. 10.

Referring now to the drawing and to FIG. 5 in particular, a parenteraltubing set generally designated 10 is seen in fragmentary perspectiveview and about to be coiled upon itself through the device to bedisclosed in detail herein. The set 10 includes a length of flexible,transparent tubing .11, generally constructed of a plastic material and,as pointed out before, may be of considerable length, i.e., three to sixfeet. The upper end of the tubing 11 is connected to a drip housing 12,while the upper end of the drip housing 12 is connected to a pluginconnector or cannula 13, suitably equipped with a protector sleeve 14.

The lower end of the tubing set can be seen in FIG. 7 and the other endof the tubing 11 is equipped with a needle adapter 15 also suitablycovered by a protector sleeve 16. Intermediate the ends of the length oftubing 11 may be positioned a clamping device such as is designated bythe numeral 17 in FIG. 7. The parenteral tubing set just described maybe seen in greater detail in Thomas et a1. Patent No. 2,777,443, orTreptow Patent No. 2,855,173. However, it is to be appreciated that theprecise type of parenteral tubing set handled by the apparatus hereinmay take many forms other than that pictured.

Briefly, the invention contemplates manipulating a set It) as disposedin FIG. 5 and winding it upon itself in the operational sequence shownin FIGS. 6 and 7. Thereafter, the set 10 is removed from the windingequipment and packaged for shipment. A production line set up for thisis seen in FIG. 1, in which the numeral 18 designates an in-feedconveyor which delivers uncoiled sets to the winding apparatus,designated generally by the numeral 19. With the apparatus 19 arrangedas indicated, there showing the are two positions and 21 available foroperators to remove sets from the in-feed conveyor 18 and place them onthe winding equipment in the condition seen in FIG. 5. When the windingoperation on a set is completed, the set may be removed in the conditionseen in FIG. 7 from several stations designated by the numerals 22, 23and 24 in FIG. 1. The operators at these stations also have in front ofthem an out-feed conveyor 25 which carries on it opened cartons suppliedfrom a source 26 and into which the coiled sets are positioned forcollection and distribution at 27.

The winding apparatus 19, as best seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, includes aconveyor frame 28, on which is slidably mounted a conveyor 29 made up ofa plurality of crescent-shaped elements 30. With elements 30 aspictured, the conveyor is adapted to turn fairly sharp corners, as seenin FIG. 1. The conveyor 29 is equipped at spacedapart points withbrackets 31 that extend horizontally and outwardly of the closed path ofthe horizontally-disposed conveyor. The brackets 31 are generallyL-shaped, with the outwardly-extending portion of the bracket beingdepending as at 32 in FIG. 5, and equipped with a guide member 33pivotally mounted on the bracket 31 as at 34. The two positions of theguide member 33 can be seen in FIGS. 8 and 9 in a schematicrepresentation.

The bracket 31, which may be bolted to one of the crescent-shapedmembers 30 as at 31a (see FIG. 2) also carries a horizontally-extendingshaft 35. Rotatably mounted on shaft 35 is a wheel 36, the wheel 36being at the outer end of shaft 35. The wheel 36 in turn is equippedwith a pair of spaced-apart, horizontally-extending posts 37, whichcarry a transverse framing member 38. The transverse framing member 38(as best seen in FIG. 2) is equipped at its ends withhorizontally-disposed, outwardly-extending arm members 39 which arebolted to the transverse frame member 38 as at 40. Thus, rotation ofwheel 36 causes a like rotation of the subbracket generally designated41 and which includes the arms 39 bolted as at to the transverse framemember 38, the transverse frame member 38 being secured to posts 37 bymeans of nuts 42.

In the illustration given, the arms 39 are equally spaced from thecenter of wheel 36, while the holding fork 43 for the tubing set 10 isslightly off-center of the wheel, although mounted on transverse member38 between arms 39.

In the operation of the device, one end of the set 10 is positioned onthe fork 43 and thereafter rotation of the wheel 36, as seen in FIGS. 6and 7, causes the set 10 to be coiled on itself and about arms 39.

Rotation of the wheel 36 is provided by a track 44 seen in FIGS. 1 and3. The track 44 is secured to the frame 28 of the conveyor and rotateswheel 36 through frictional engagement of the wheel with the track. Inthe illustration given, a second track 45 (seen only in FIG. 1) isprovided between the last unloading station 24 and the first loadingstation 20, in order to rotate the Wheel 36 to a predetermined loadingposition. For example, the track 44 may be of a length to rotate thewheel 36 about three and one-half revolutions, while track 45 willprovide the fractional revolution necessary to make the entire circularmotion of the wheel an integral number of revolutions.

During the winding of set 10 on arms 39, the guide bar 33 supports thedepending length of tubing 11 at an intermediate position and preventssidesway or vibration in the same. For this purpose, the guide bar 33 ispositioned a spaced distance below the bracket frame 41 and continuouslypresents a sideways force against tubing 11. The guide bar 33 isequipped at its unattached end (as best seen in FIG. 5) with a curvedportion 33a which further inhibits vibration of set 10 in the windingapparatus so that especially the portion of length of the set beingwound is supported in a substantially vibration less condition. At thetime the set 10 is being mounted in the fork 43, the guide arm 33 ispivoted to a direction substantially parallel with the travel of theconveyor and which is shown schematically in FIG. 9. Thereafter, theguide arm 33 is pivoted to the position shown in FIG. 8, where it canprovide its desirable support of the tubing 11. The pivotal movement ofthe guide arms 33 on the depending legs 32 of bracket 31 is constrainedto the two positions shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 through a toggle and springarrangement generally designated by the numeral 46. The arrangement 46includes a toggle member 47 connected between the pivot point 34 on leg32, and one end of a spring 48.

The other end of the spring 48 is connected to an in-' termediate pointon guide arm 33 as at 49. The conveyor frame 28 is equipped with a camsurface 50 (seen in FIG. 8) which engages the end of guide arm 33 remotefrom the curved portion 33a and causes the guide arm 33 to rotate fromthe condition shown in FIG. 8 to that of FIG. 9 (also as seen in FIG.5). Subsequently, a second cam surface 51 (seen only in FIG. 9) andprovided as a part of conveyor frame 28 engages :1 depending post 52(see FIG. 5) on guide arm 33 to bring about the pivotal outward movementof guide arm 33.

The inner face of wheel 36 is equipped with a pair of inwardly-extendingposts 53 (best seen in FIG. 4). When the wheel 36 is out of frictionalengagement with the tracks 44 and 45, a restraining bar 54 provided aspart of frame 28 bears against these two posts 53 to immobilize wheel 36against rotation. To insure the proper engagement of the posts 53 withthe rail 54, the rail 54 may be inclined upwardly at its two ends as at54a so as to engage the posts 53 irrespective of their rotationalposition and to permit the track 44 to cause wheel 36 to rotate withoutbinding.

A modified form of the winding apparatus is seen in FIGS. 10 and 11. Asbefore, a wheel is provided, designated in FIGS. 10 and 11 by thenumeral 136, which is fixed to a shaft suitably journaled in a bearing135a (see FIG. 11). The end of shaft 135 opposite that to which wheel136 is fixed rigidly carries a bracket frame 141 analogous to thatdescribed heretofore in connection with FIGS. l-9. The bearing blocks135a are secured in 21 depending position through a work table 155,which is journaled for rotation about a centrally-disposed,vertically-extending standard 156. The standard 156 is carried by aplatform 157 which on its upper surface provides a platform 158. Thestandard 156 carries a laterally-extending arm 159, on which is mountedan electric motor 160. The electric motor 160, through a geararrangement 161, drives a wheel 162. Thus, as the wheel 162 rotatesunder the power delivered to it from motor 160, the arm 159 beingimmobilized in a predetermined radial position, the work table rotatesabout the standard 156. The rotation of work table 155 induces rotationof wheels 136 on platform 158, thereby causing rotation of the bracketframes 141 to wind sets in the procedure described hereinbefore.

While, in the foregoing specification, I have set forth a detaileddescription of an embodiment of the invention for the purpose ofillustration, those skilled in the art will perceive many variations inthe details thereof without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention.

I claim:

1. In apparatus for winding parenteral tubing Sets, endless conveyormeans, a bracket supported on said conveyor means, a sub-bracket mountedon said bracket for rotation about a generally horizontal axis, meansfor rotating said sub-bracket, said sub-bracket member providinghorizontally-extending, spaced-apart arms, means on said sub-bracketbetween said arms for releasably supporting one end of a set, arm meansstabilizing a portion of said set remote from said one end byfrictionally engaging the same, the stabilizing means being pivotallysupported on said bracket a spaced distance below said sub-bracket, andmeans on said conveyor means for selectively pivoting said stabilizingmeans.

2. The structure of claim '1 in which a wheel is rotatably supported onsaid bracket, said sub-bracket being secured to said wheel, interruptedtrack means on said conveyor means for frictionally engaging said wheelfor selectively rotating said sub-bracket.

3. The structure of claim 2 in which said conveyor means is equippedwith means for immobilizing said wheel in a predetermined position whensaid wheel is out of frictional engagement with said track means.

4. 1n winding apparatus for parenteral tubing sets, a frame, an endlessconveyor on said frame for travel in a closed path in a horizontalplane, a plurality of equallyspaced, horizontally-extending bracketsupports on said conveyor, a bracket on each support and rotatablycarrying a Wheel for rotation in a vertical plane, a pair ofspaced-apart, horizontally-extending arms on one face of each wheel,means on said one 'face of each wheel for supporting one end of aparenteral tubing set between said arms, a length of track on said framefrictionally engaged by said wheel adjacent a portion of said conveyor,post means on the other face of said wheel, and

means on said frame for contacting said post means to orient said wheelin a predetermined position.

5. The structure of claim 4 in which said bracket is equipped with alaterally-extending guide bar spaced below said wheel.

6. The structure of claim 5 in which said guide bar is pivotally mountedon said bracket and means are provided on said frame for pivoting saidguide bar.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS622,695 Kurth Apr. 11, 1899 902,787 Wiebke Nov. 3, 1908 2,021,031Swanson Nov. 12, 1935 2,045,872 Reiners et al. June 30, 1936 2,132,937Debus Got. 11, 1938 2,554,855 Creed May 29, 1951 2,615,651 Johnson Oct.28, 1952 2,709,856 Hunter June 7, 1955 2,815,180 Pratt Dec. 3, 19572,896,872 Dresser July 28, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 421,597 Great BritainDec. 24, 1934

